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“Due to the advantages that have been taken with campaign finance over the past few years, in spite of Connecticut’s poor economic climate, it’s time that these loopholes are eliminated and that our taxpayers’ dollars are no longer wasted,” said Frey.
The proposed strike-all amendment, would cap organizational expenditures by state parties, reduce individual donor limits, eliminate grants to unopposed candidates, stop state contractors from donating to a federal account to fund state races, and reduce all Citizens’ Election Program grants.
“This proposal will make our elections more honest and fair. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what can help get our residents to trust in their state government again,” said Frey.
The spending reduction would save taxpayers an estimated $7 million in a gubernatorial election year and $2.4 million in presidential cycles.
The CEP, which funds gubernatorial and state Senate and House races, is a public finance program that awards candidates with campaign funding after hitting a specific private contribution threshold.
Since 2008, the 1,185 taxpayer-funded CEP campaigns have cost $80.7 million, according to the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal Analysis.
House Bill 6749, An Act Concerning Expansion of Public Financing Of Municipal Campaigns with the attached strike-all republican amendment, was sent to the Senate for a vote.
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